Boredom in the Office

We all have those days where the hands of the office clock seem to laugh at us as we check the time, never seeming to advance more than a few seconds no matter how many hours go by. When time slows to a crawl and you find yourself staring blankly at your cubicle walls, liven things up in your office.

Here is a fun list from abcnews.go.com of inexpensive ways to liven up your office and break up your usual routine.

Pictures from your prime: Encourage all staff members to bring in a photo of themselves that is at least 15 years old. Collect all the photos and display them cleverly on a bulletin board. At the end of the week, hold a contest and reward the person who identifies the most colleagues correctly.

Bliss Breaks: Hire a masseuse from your local salon to provide 10-minute shoulder, hand or foot massages. Turn an unused nook into the “Calm Corner” for the day, complete with feel-good tunes and aromatherapy.

Chuck Your Change: Decorate an empty upturned water cooler and place it by the front desk with a cardboard sign “Will Work for Office Perks,” and encourage fellow workers to drop their extra loose pocket change into the cooler. Explain that the change collected will be used for special treats and office parties. Talk to your boss about getting the company to match the donations so you can throw a festive “End of Summer” bash.

Office Idol:Hold a survivor-style challenge. Test your skills in waste-paper basketball, an extreme solitaire assessment, even office-themed Pictionary. Or invite small teams from other departments to compete against each other. Crown the winner of the festivities with an office-made medal crafted from multicolor paperclips.

Team Photo: Prep for a group photo by bringing fun props and costumes. Baseball caps and uniforms; cowboy hats and boots; or colorful wigs and clown noses. After the photo shoot, blow up the best shots and display them around the office.

“I Scream” Social: Use your power of persuasion to convince your manager to host a monthly ice-cream social. To sweeten up the treat, blast some 80s rock tunes (vote on the music everyone wants to hear) and sing along for a little energy and amusement.

Field Trip: All kids and kids-at-heart love an excuse to put aside their work for a stint and play the afternoon away. With permission, set aside a few hours at the end of the work day once a month for a group outing to the movies, a nearby museum, or for a few hours in the park. Make it a big deal in advance with permission slip-inspired reminder notices.

Get creative, the possibilities are limitless. There are a myriad of things you can do in the office inexpensively. If your office typically has a down time during the summer or holiday seasons, think about spending time doing charity work or helping with a non-profit group, sub for Santa or blood drive. You can build unity with co-workers and keep each other from suffering from the insanity of office boredom.